PUBLIC SERVICES REFORM BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 3 October 1907, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVICES REFORM BILL.

SEQUEL TO MeCULLOUGH'S SUSPENSION. INTERESTING DEBATE IN TIIE HOUSE. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon, Mr. Barclay, in moving the first reading of the Public Services Reform Bill, referred to the suspension of Mr. McCullough. He said some persona had regarded the action of the Government in suspending McCullough as tyrannical, but lie was not one of those. So far as the Government's explanation as given by the Premier went, it appeared satisfactory in most respects, but explanation was needed as to the principles on which he acted. Mc{ 'ullough had been suspended

toi a breach of a regulation which never . came into force so far as the Railway ' Department was concerned until April of this year. The regulations of 1873 " he contended, did not apply to the case of MeCuilough. They only applied, he maintained, lo officers, and McCullough, who was a tinsmith, could not be regarded as an officer. He had referred to the. railway regulations of 1881, but lie (Mr. Barclay) could not find any word 011 the subject in those regulations. He argued that men in the Department were not in the employ of the Government or trustees, but in the employ of the country. The rule under which McCullough had been suspended, he went on to say, had been a dead letter except in a few cases in which the Government had been induced to take action by persons outside. He urged that the logical course was to repeal the regulation. The Premier: It is an official report. Mr. Hornsby, in supporting the Bill, asserted that for some time past McCullough had been under a cloud so far as his immediate superior officers were concerned, and had been subjected to treatment that would irk any man who respected his manhood. Ho argued that no such regulation as that under which McCullough was suspended should lie allowed to exist, and as soon as a man had put his tools down at the end of the day he should be as free as any other man. The Premier said it was to be regretted that before a settlement of McCullough's case they should have the inflammatory statement that had been made by two lion, members. They were not going to have it said that the country was ruled by civil servants. The Government was desirous of doing what was fair and right to every class of public servant in the country, and lie did not think the majority of these servants desired to rule the country, and they were not going to allow such a state of affairs to exist. If they did so, tliey would have the American system with all its evils. He did not think he would be subjected to atouse from the House, and he treated any abuse that might be cast oil him, as head of the Government, from outside over this case with the greatest contempt. Tli| Premier read a detailed statement showing that the regulations had frequently been referred to and brought before the railway authorities and workmen. The code had Been revised and reissued in April, 1907. The Government was dealing dispassionately with McCullongli's case, and so Ion" as tbe regulations were in existence it was the Government's responsibility ■ to see that they were complied with. ! Mr 'Hogan said it might be l 'ulvisable to ' disassociate the public service from the administration, and bring them under Hie Arbitration Act or a special state of the Arbitration. Act. Mr Wilford confined his remarks to the Bill, which he Said he would suoport, believing that the freedom givn would remove the element of serfdom than at present obtained, and would allow a large number of employees in the public service to do in public what they were now doing in private. Mr Okoy said it had become a recojf ' nised things that positions in the Civil Service were only given to Government supporters. Ait a meeting during 111 election campaign, a vote of thanki [ to the Government candidate was | morel by a civil servant, but no actbi was taken, though the Native Mmistei was present. Other members also spoke. , Mr Mnssey said, as a citizen, there was nothing against McCullough, but , he contended that State employees . should not tike an active part in the [ direction of leading or organising a . political party. Our political systsm ; might not be perfect, and he believed it was not, but he did not desire to see the American system, where the high officials of the public service went out with the political party. Tf tbe railway works had not been notified that the regulations applied to them, then lw considered McOnlloiigh's treatment was very harsh. lie contended that if we were yoing to have such regulations, then they must be administered impartially. Mr Tinea was speaking when the Mouse anjonrnprl.